General Education

The Shaw University Core Curriculum represents the
University's general education requirements. Based on the University’s Mission
Statement and Expanded Statement of Purpose, the General Education requirements
provides the foundation for students to "value life-long learning, leadership
and service," be "broadly educated in the liberal arts and sciences," as well
as the ability to function in an ever-changing global environment. Students who
complete the General Education courses should also be proficient in the areas
of critical thinking, oral and written communication, quantitative reasoning,
technological and information literacy, and ethical reasoning.

Mission Statement

The aim of the General
Education curriculum is to provide the educational foundation for students to
succeed in their degree program, develop transferable and marketable skills,
and the ability to apply those skills in real world settings. The program is
designed to not only build competencies that studies have shown employers want,
but which are also critical in an ever-changing and expanding global and
technological environment. The
curriculum also aspires to cultivate knowledge essential to functioning as a
responsible citizen, and to stimulate values that are vital for a fulfilled
life.

The General Education Program
was revised during the 2014-2015 academic year, and the changes were
implemented for the 2015-2016 academic year. All new incoming students will be
required to follow the new guidelines to graduate. Students who were in
attendance prior to the 2015-2016 academic year can still adhere to the
previous requirements, although they will now have some more choices to fulfill
certain requirements.

If a student withdraws from the University and
remains inactive from enrollment for one year the student automatically is held
responsible for the curriculum existing at the time of readmission. An
exception will be made for those students who have previously earned sixty (60)
credits or more, or who have completed seventy-five percent (75%) or more of
the General Education requirements in place at the time of their previous
enrollment at the university. Such students will have the option to either (1)
complete their original General Education requirements in full, or (2) to
complete the current General Education requirements in full. Those students
must indicate their chosen course of action at the time of their re-admittance
to the university and will not be allowed to change that selection once their
course of study has re-commenced.